Cape Town - Eric Tinkler praised Tendai Ndoro's clinical showing in front of goal after the striker fired Orlando Pirates to a 2-0 victory over Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup Last 32.
Ndoro bagged two goals in quick succession in the latter stages of the second half as Tinkler's men saw off their Soweto rivals to seal a place in the Last 16 of the competition.
Tinkler was less than satisfied with his side's sup-par performance in the first-half, but was buoyed by Ndoro's brace in the second stanza.
"We started the game very well," Tinkler said in his post-match interview. "Tendai created a chance all on his own in the first couple of minutes, then in the seventh minute there was a cross that I felt Gift Motupa should've put away.
"We could have found ourselves in the lead very early, which is what we tried to do. After that we started to lose our focus and discipline, and they started to dominate.
"But half-time we rectified it. I highlighted the importance of coming out and starting well, which is what we did. Confidence grew after Tendai scored, and I thought the second goal was also fantastic."
Ndoro has struggled to break into the first-team reckoning this season, but has done his prospects no harm after another eye-catching performance.
When asked why Ndoro had been overlooked for a starting place for much of the campaign, Tinkler added: "I've explained many times that his work rate needed to increase.
"We're a team in which everybody needs to work, and we can see he is doing that now.
"We know he's got great ability in front of goal and that, when he gets the opportunity, he must shoot because nine out of ten times he will hit the back of the net."